“Because it hates me.”
Asher raised his eyebrows, but she took a bite of the chocolate in her hand—the flavor that hadn’t been cooled enough for Honor to frost until after he’d left. But the batter had been divine.
He watched her chew, envious it wasn’t his taste buds drowning in pleasure. “Why doesn’t that one hate you?”
She gave a low hum of delight. “This one wants me. Better yet, it wants me to want it.”
Her evocative tone summoned the image of Honor leaning forward to suck the chocolate batter from his finger. His blood heated with the sensual memory. Now he wanted a taste of the baked version so bad he reached out to pluck the last bite from Roxanna’s hand.
She moved faster than he expected, twisting her body to protect her treasure. “Keep your dirty paws to yourself,” she growled before stuffing the rest in her mouth.
He snorted at her chipmunk cheeks. “How’d you get these anyway?”
She finished chewing before telling him about Honor’s visit a short fifteen minutes ago, and her offer to sell the cupcakes to make up for the party fiasco. “I sold four while she was standing here, but all she did was storm back out as mad as when she came in.”
“Can you really blame her?”
Rox shrugged.
Asher glanced at the garbage again. Could he pull that one out? It was just sitting on some crumpled packing paper. He was jonesing for some frosting since his mother had gotten rid of all the anniversary cake, “Just to be safe.” God Bless Elena for saving the few pieces she’d sent home with him last night. But those were all the way at home, and this one was right here.
“Don’
t you dare,” Rox warned. “Not in front of my customers.”
He made a face and asked, “Why does this one hate you?”
“She was pissed off at me when she was baking that flavor.” Her nose scrunched with distaste. “It was horrible. The frosting didn’t even taste sweet.”
“What? I had one last night and this morning and both were awesome—especially the frosting.”
“This morning?” Roxanna’s eyebrows sailed skyward. “Did you spend the night?”
I wish.
“No. I washed dishes and she sent me home with a plate of cupcakes as payment.” After two insanely hot kisses. He gave her a mock glare for not sharing. “I didn’t get any of the chocolate ones, though. She had just started those when I got there.”
Her smug grin suddenly had him thinking back to what she’d said a moment ago. Honor was pissed off at Rox when making the lemon blueberry. And then he showed up for the chocolate—the flavor that made his psychic best friend groan with ecstasy.
He lifted his gaze to Roxanna’s. “The chocolate wanted you, hey?”
“Yes.”
“It wanted you to want it?”
“Oh, yes.” Her grin widened. “Very much so.”
He nodded and backed toward the door. Face to face had paid off with huge dividends.
“Where ya goin’, Ace?”
“To get myself a chocolate cupcake.”
And hopefully more.
CHAPTER 16
Wednesday night, Honor slipped beneath the covers, happy to be off her feet after another full day of baking. She reached for the lined, yellow slip of paper she’d left on her nightstand Sunday night and leaned back against her headboard to read it. Again.